Three penalties from out-half Niall O'Connor gave the Ulster Ravens a 9-0 victory over Leinster 'A' at a windswept Navan RFC on Thursday evening.

'A' INTERPROVINCIAL MATCH: Thursday, February 4

LEINSTER 'A' 0 ULSTER RAVENS 9, Navan RFC

Scorers: Leinster 'A': -
Ulster Ravens: Pens: Niall O'Connor 3

A second minute attempted drop goal from Leinster 'A' out-half Ian Madigan sailed inches wide as the hosts dominated the early play and flanker Eoin Sheriff looked particularly dangerous with ball in hand in wintry conditions at the Meath venue.

With both sides struggling to assert themselves, Madigan's second effort at goal - a 14th minute penalty - fell wide and narrowly failed to break the deadlock, while another effort two minutes later near the touchline and again in the face of a wild gale, this time struck the upright.

Ulster Ravens rallied and some swift interplay from scrum half Ian Porter found his half-back partner Niall O'Connor but he failed to gather the pass inside the Leinster 22 when the try-line beckoned.

The Ravens pressed and were eventually rewarded with a penalty from the boot of O'Connor on the half hour mark to give them a 3-0 lead which they maintained into the half-time interval.

Though Leinster 'A' began the second half with great intent, the Ulster outfit doubled their advantage with O'Connor's second penalty of the evening in front of the posts in the 48th minute.

A Trevor Hogan surge past the halfway line instigated a spell of home pressure but it was the composed O'Connor who capped off some more good work with his third successful kick to give the Ravens a 9-0 lead.

In the closing minutes, Chris Keane, Stephen Keogh and the industrious Eoin O'Malley each separately came close to scoring the game's opening try for the hosts.

But it was too little, too late as the Ravens, despite losing Ian Whitten to a 79th minute yellow card, quelled the pressure to seize a morale-boosting win ahead of next Friday's British & Irish Cup trip to Llanelli.

Leinster 'A' also resume their British & Irish Cup campaign next weekend, travelling to Sandy Park to face Exeter Chiefs.

Looking forward to facing England on Sunday, Ireland winger Tommy Bowe said: "We've trained very well this week, we're really excited about the game. It's about going out there and doing whatever we can to get ourselves that win."

Second row Devin Toner previews Ireland's crunch RBS 6 Nations clash with England, saying: "It's a pretty formidable English pack. Attwood and Kruis have played fantastically well. They're well drilled and focused and their scrum and lineout are very good."

Looking forward to facing England this weekend, Ireland back rower Sean O'Brien said: "It's obviously exciting, but it's one game at a time. I don't think there's any more pressure on us than in the first two games. That's the way you have to look at it."

Irish Rugby TV sat down with Ireland Under-20 scrum coach John Fogarty to talk about the U-20 Six Nations so far and Friday's clash with England at Donnybrook. Tickets are on sale on www.ticketmaster.ie.

Shane Byrne and Malcolm O'Kelly preview the Ireland v England Legends match which takes place at Donnybrook this coming Saturday (kick-off 7.30pm). Tickets are available from www.ticketmaster.ie. All proceeds from the game will go to support the IRFU Charitable Trust and the RFU All Schools Charity.

Watch highlights from the Ireland team announcement press conference as Joe Schmidt reveals the team to play France. Peter O'Mahony says it is good to 'have some big figures back' for Saturday's clash.